The Groundtruth from a combat veteran, backed up by independent research and historical study. Information beneficial to the Troops. And a touch of objective politics, as it relates to the subjects at hand.

This site is unabashedly Pro-American and Pro-Military however none of the views expressed here are to be considered as endorsed, proposed, or supported by the Department of Defense or any other Agency, government, public, or private. http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/

Pro-Troop Non-Profits WE Support

Giftcards

Shadow of the Sword

SSgt Workman is featured in the Hall of Heroes and a book review on this from Marine Till Death that read it as it was written: http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/home/2008/12/shadow-of-the-sword-by-jeremiah-workman-w-john-bruning.html

http://waronterrornews.typepad.com/home/2008/12/ssgt-jeremiah-workman-navy-cross-usmc-iraq-marion-oh.html and links to prior articles.

Combat Optical

Ad

Meta Tags & Counters

Politics of Peace

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Evidently, when it is not politically expedient to admit terrorism exists. Tsarnaev, a Chechen Islamist Terrorist who killed 4 people in Boston, wounded hundreds, in two shootouts and three bombings, who had more bombs and had planned more attacks, who ran over his own dying brother and fellow terrorist, is not being charged with terrorism. He is being charged with using a "weapon of mass destruction" and "malicious destruction of property resulting in death." Not only has he not been charged with terrorism, but has not been charged with murder, or attempted murder.

There are at least two counts of terrorism (two bombs), at least four counts of murder, a count of carjacking, and at least 185 counts of attempted murder (injured), that should be charged against him. These are low-hanging fruit, with sufficient evidence, in the public eye, with which the Obama Administration and Eric Holder's "Justice" Department have chosen to not charge the Islamist Terrorist. The White House was slow to admit that the Boston Bombing was an act of terrorism, but to not charge the Islamist Terrorist with terrorism is a slap in the face to every American, not just those that were victims of the attack.

Tsarnaev attained his US citizenship on 9/11/2012, so I can accept the argument to try him in a civilian court. In addition to the clearcut and obvious charges that should be made against him, due to his US citizenship, additional charges of treason, perjury (swearing an oath to the United States and US Constitution while acting as an agent of the enemy) should be levied and his citizenship should be revoked.

In other news, the Canadians announced today that they have arrested terrorists involved in a plot to attack trains in that country. They were far more forthright, clearly stating that this was a plot by AL-QAEDA, In IRAN. Given that currently, investigators are saying they don't know what connections to other terrorists the Tsarnaev brothers had, it is very interesting that the White House was so quick to say that there was no connection between the Boston Bombing, and the Iranian Al-Qaeda plot on the Northern Border.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

In 2012, two videos achieved notoriety. One demonstrated the atrocities of Islamists in Egypt against Christians and spotlighted the precedents of the "prophet's" behavior in child molestation, and murder of civilians, war crimes, tyranny, and terrorism, as written in their holy book. The other was of an Asian in a dance he "created" which mimics the actions of a cowboy riding a horse.

One of the artistic creators was invited to perform for President Obama. The other was jailed by agents of the President.

But these men have a history. One is a refugee of Islamist abuses in Egypt while the other called for the torture of those following the orders of a previous President, following the orders of the American People. These are the 2004 words of one of the artists:

“Kill those f–ing Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives.”“Kill those f–ing Yankees who ordered them to torture.”“Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers”“Kill them all slowly and painfully.” Psy

One was accused of hate crimes and of inspiring violence around the world. The other was given photo-ops with the Royal, er, First Family. One has lived under threat to life and family and the other espoused that the families and children of others be tortured. One has been threatened with death and the other has called for the death of innocents. Both have American citizenship. Both have attained the attention of the Emperor, er President.

You know what, I don't give a dayum about an apology 8 years after the fact from the rapper. He has a 'right' to say what he does and I have a right to invite him to move to North Korea where his anti-American antics will get him celebrity status in a kingdom where subjects must express gratitude for every grain of rice they receive, from their Communist god-king.

But since the POTUS is so good and experienced with apologies, I do call on him to apologize for his actions, for his rewarding of and embracing a man who called for the rape, torture, and murder of Americans, and their children. He can't claim ignorance. It was well known who and what it was before he met with him. And he can't claim lack of authority. He has used the power of the office to uninvite others to functions he has attended, as well as having the symbols of Christianity covered in his presence.

It would be nice for him to apologize for his own misdeeds for a change, instead of for the successes of America, and for the hard road American Troops have taken to free the people of foreign lands of tyrants.

His apology doesn't mean I'll forget his actions, nor that I'll forgive him for embracing the one that called for torture and jailing the one that complained of oppression, but it is the right thing, for him to do.

I'm not alone in my disgust with the actions of the POTUS in this. Fellow Veterans reported the story first, over at This Ain't Hell.

Friday, November 30, 2012

A U.S. Army analyst, charged in the largest security breach in U.S. military history, has taken the stand for the first time in a pre-trial hearing on his detention conditions.

Bradley Manning testified Thursday about restrictions he endured while in custody at an army base in Kuwait and later in Quantico, Virginia (near Washington). During his three-hour testimony, Manning complained the time he spent alone in his cell was draining. He claimed there were times he thought he was going to die.

Manning downloaded thousands of diplomatic cables and other Top Secret material onto compact discs that were sent to the anti-American website WikiLeaks. He has offered to accept responsibility for the leak by pleading guilty to reduced charges. A decision on that offer has not been made.

The defendant has said that while at Quantico he was locked up alone in a windowless cell for 23 hours a day and forced to sleep naked. The military notes the treatment was necessary because he posed a suicide risk. Manning made multiple threats of suicide, including to hang himself by his underwear waistband.

Lawyers for Manning are asking for his charges to be dropped, saying the pretrial conditions were harsh enough. Manning has claimed that he was too gay to be given a Security Clearance in the first place, much less access to classified material. Prior to Clinton's DADT policy, homosexuals were denied a security clearance or entry into the military.

Manning could spend the rest of his life in prison if found guilty.

The leaked diplomatic cables and military reports, published by WikiLeaks starting in July 2010, infuriated the international community, often providing blunt and unflattering U.S. views of world leaders' private and public lives and placing the lives of Iraqi and Afghani, as well as US Soldiers and Dipomats in danger.

U.S. officials say WikiLeaks' publication of the stolen documents put lives in danger, threatened national security and undermined U.S. efforts to work with other countries. VoA.

Monday, November 26, 2012

While Syria slaughters its own people and Cairo burns yet again, idealism reveals again, that war is to be left in the dustbins of history. Similar predictions were made in 1909, just 4 years before the first World War, and in the 1930's by Neville Chamberlain, on the eve of the Second World War. In the 90's, Clinton slashed our military with the idealism that the world would be a safer place. It ignored the rising attacks by Islamist Terrorists and declarations of war by al-Qaeda, in hopes it would just go away. It claimed terrorism was a law enforcement problem, and should be tried in court, rather than prosecuted by militaries.

Zero Ponsdorf of This Ain't Hell points out the latest prediction of the impending future world of peace. And some blame the realism of Veterans, of the fact that Sovereign Nations maintain standing Armies for self-defense, that wars continue. Evidently, some believe that if Nations will just give up the means to defend themselves, then dictatorships will stop trying to take over their land and people.

Meanwhile, in the real world, the Communist Central Party of China has selected their new set of leaders, without ANY input from their Chinese subjects and are publishing new passports with maps of claiming the territory of several Pacific Nations, from the Philipines, to India, to Korea, to Japan, and of course Taiwan.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Wednesday, the Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing near a NATO base in Kabul that killed two Afghan security guards and wounded five civilians.

The blast hit an area near Camp Eggers in a section of Kabul that houses NATO coalition headquarters as well as foreign embassies. The attack prompted alarms at the U.S. Embassy.

NATO said the blast damaged one of its vehicles, but that there were no reports of casualties among coalition troops.

In other news, International human rights groups are calling on Afghanistan to halt its use of the death penalty, after authorities executed eight prisoners.

President Hamid Karzai approved the Tuesday executions for crimes including murder, kidnapping and rape. Afghan officials say eight more prisoners are set to die in the coming days.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International expressed concerns about the ability of the Afghan justice system to ensure fair trials. Both groups oppose the death penalty in all cases.

The European Union's mission in Afghanistan also says it has serious concerns about the executions and called on Afghan officials to institute a moratorium on capital punishment.

In a statement Wednesday, the Afghan Taliban said it had reports that some of its imprisoned fighters are facing execution, and promised “heavy repercussion” for lawmakers, courts and Afghan officials if such sentences were carried out.

Executions were common in Afghanistan under the rule of Taliban, which put people to death for murder and adultery. The use of the death penalty has been rare in Afghanistan since the Taliban fell from power in 2001. VoA.

Friday, November 09, 2012

Russia says it expects the United States will show more flexibility in a dispute over U.S. missile defense plans following the re-election of President Barack Obama.

Speaking Thursday at an international conference in Moscow, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin expressed hope that the U.S. president will take into account the opinions of Russia and others regarding the configuration of NATO's missile defense.

In March, Mr. Obama, unaware he was speaking on an open microphone, told then-Russian president Dmitry Medvedev that he would have more flexibility on the issue after the November election.

Russia and the United States have been deadlocked on negotiations on the missile defense plan, which the U.S. says is aimed at countering a possible missile threat from Iran.

Moscow says the missile shield would be capable of undermining Russia's nuclear deterrent. It is urging the U.S. to provide guarantees that any future configuration will not be aimed against Russia.

The U.S.- and NATO-backed plan calls for deploying a system of anti-missile interceptors based at sea on destroyers and cruisers and coupled with advanced land-based versions, some of which would be based in former Warsaw Pact countries. VoA.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

USMC: QUANTICO, Va., Sept. 24, 2012 - Charges against two Marines were referred to trial by courts-martial Sept. 21 for their alleged involvement in urinating on deceased Taliban fighters and for posing for unofficial photographs with human casualties in Afghanistan.

The incident allegedly took place during a counterinsurgency operation near Sandala in the Musa Qala district of Afghanistan's Helmand province on or about July 27, 2011. The charges were referred to courts-martial by Lieutenant General Richard P. Mills, the Commanding General of Marine Corps Combat Development Command.

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

The rebel Free Syrian Army says it is no longer bound by a United Nations-backed cease-fire agreement as international efforts to end the bloody conflict were set to ramp up with renewed diplomacy later this week.

Rebel spokesman Sami al-Kurdi told the Reuters news agency Monday the FSA had “decided to end our commitment to this [plan]” and have only resumed offensive operations “to defend our people.”

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 80 government soldiers were killed over the last few days as rebels intensified attacks on government checkpoints. Syrian state media have not acknowledged the casualties and there is no independent confirmation.

International mediator Kofi Annan is due to brief the U.N. Security Council Thursday in New York and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Friday in Washington. On Monday, Annan urged major powers to ensure his peace plan was implemented by both sides as it remains “the only option on the table.”

Saturday, June 02, 2012

A prominent U.S. newspaper says U.S. President Barack Obama has been orchestrating secret, sophisticated cyber attacks on Iran's main nuclear facility.

The New York Times cited anonymous sources close to the program who said the order – given just after Mr. Obama took office – triggered a major expansion of America's cyberweapons program.

The Times reported the cyber attack program was begun under former president George W. Bush, who encouraged Mr. Obama to keep it going, and the new president did so.

The main instrument of attack was a computer virus that later became known as Stuxnet. It was infiltrated into the closed computer network that operates much of Iran's main nuclear enrichment facility at Natanz.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Brett Kimberlin, convicted serial bomber/terrorist has issued threats to a well known blogger sufficiently serious and believable that said blogger, Stacy McCain, has abandoned his home and gone into hiding to protect his family. The left wing terrorist doesn't seem to like that his past convictions and current left-wing benefactors were made public, again.

Kimberlin has been convicted of drug running and acts of terrorism, caught red-handed with timers and detonators for explosives as well as with 5 and a half tons of drugs on his family's property and in a trans-national shipment. He has been convicted on perjury charges as well. He was suspected in a murder case of a grandmother who was suspicious that her minor granddaughter was a victim in an illicit relationship with Kimberlin.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

The head of the U.N. nuclear agency says he expects Iran to sign an agreement "quite soon" to allow inspections of facilities suspected of being used in a covert nuclear-weapons program.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Yukiya Amano made the comment Tuesday after returning to Vienna from a brief visit to Iran, where he met chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. Amano said he and Jalili made a "decision to reach an agreement" on U.N. access to Iranian sites including the Parchin military complex.

Western powers suspect Iran has engaged in atomic weapons research at the site. Tehran says Parchin is a conventional weapons facility and insists the Iranian nuclear program is peaceful.

Nuclear facilities and sites in Iran.

Israel sees a nuclear-armed Iran as a threat to its existence and refuses to rule out military action against the Iranian nuclear program.

Israel sees false progress

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak accused Iran of trying to create a false impression of progress with the IAEA before nuclear talks with six world powers Wednesday in Baghdad. He said Iran is trying to reduce international pressure to make nuclear concessions and wants to postpone any intensification of sanctions by the foreign powers.

The six-nation group is trying to negotiate a separate agreement with Iran on stopping Iranian production of highly-enriched uranium that could be converted quickly to nuclear-bomb material.

Barak urged the six-nation group to leave "no window or crack" for Iran to reach a military nuclear capability, saying any international concessions on the issue must be "forbidden."

He raised the possibility of allowing Iran to keep what he called a "symbolic" amount of low-enriched uranium but only under "strict" international supervision. Israel is widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed nation in the Middle East.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Thousands of anti-war protesters marched through the streets of Chicago Sunday, taking their discontent to world leaders assembled for a NATO summit.

The demonstrators had little chance of being seen by the leaders and delegates from 50 countries meeting at a lakeside convention center.

Sunday's protest followed several smaller demonstrations over the previous two days. Most have been peaceful, but police said two men were in custody, accused of planning to make Molotov cocktails for use during the NATO meetings.

On Saturday, three men were charged with with terrorism for possession of explosive devices. Police say they plotted to use the devices in an attack on President Obama's campaign headquarters in Chicago, the home of the city's mayor, Rahm Emanuel, and other targets. VoA.

For more on these "Occupy" protestors/Black Bloc terrorists, see This Aint Hell.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is to attend the NATO summit in Chicago at the invitiaion of NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen who says Pakistan plays an important role in resolving the conflict in Afghanistan.

Pakistan presidential spokesman Farhatullah Baber told VOA that Mr. Zardari will tell NATO that the war against terrror cannot be fought only with swords, guns or bullets. Baber said economic development in tribal and border areas are of the utmost importance because unemployment and poverty lead people to terrorism.

The summit is focusing on NATO's plans to gradually hand over security control to Afghan forces, paving the way for the withdrawal of some 130,000 foreign combat troops by the end of 2014 [Despite record levels of violence since the retreat was announced in 2009].

Afghan presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi told VOA that Pakistan has a role in the “complex” peace process because the sanctuaries of Afghanistan's armed opposition remain in Pakistan. Faizi said Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Zadari will meet in Chicago. VoA.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

By Donna Miles

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2012 – Afghanistan will top the agenda items at the upcoming NATO Summit in Chicago as coalition members consider an agreement on a long-term strategic partnership that promotes security and stability there, NATO’s supreme allied commander for Europe reported.

“What I am hoping to see is a commitment to resourcing the Afghan national security forces post-2014,” Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis said of the May 20-21 summit, which will include the 28 NATO heads of state and government representatives from many of the 50 nations that make up the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

“I am fairly confident we will see that, and I think that will be the key to long-term success,” Stavridis said during an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen considers a long-term strategic partnership with Afghanistan to be a high-level goal, Stavridis told Congress in March.

“Everything I can see around the circuit on the NATO side indicates a strong willingness to go forward,” he told the Senate Armed Services Committee. “And I believe we will have an enduring partnership between NATO and the republic of Afghanistan.”

Missile defense will be another major summit issue, the admiral said, with the announcement that the new missile defense system has reached interim operational capability. This interim system, the first phase of the new U.S.-based European Phased Adaptive Approach Missile Defense System, will be integrated with the NATO command-and-control system to begin standing up the NATO missile defense system, he said.

Looking to the future, Stavridis said he anticipates more discussion of “smart defense” -- essentially pooling capabilities in light of shrinking defense budgets confronting all the NATO members.

“As we face these financial pressures today, clearly we need to, in any alliance, come together in efficient ways so we can … generate capability for reasonable amounts of money,” he said.

Stavridis, who also commands U.S. European Command, noted missile defense as an example of financial burden-sharing that provides collective defense. Another is the Baltic air policing mission, in which NATO member nations rotate their fighter jets to defend the airspace over Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.

Summit participants also will discuss progress on a new alliance ground surveillance system that will give commanders a comprehensive picture of the situation on the ground. NATO’s operation to protect civilians in Libya drove home the importance of such a system, Stavridis said. As a result, 13 allies plan to procure a variant of the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle and the associated command-and-control base stations and to operate them on behalf of all NATO members, he reported.

Stavridis said he hopes the members will discuss the pooling of resources in other areas such as special operations and cyber in which pooled arrangements would benefit the alliance.

While not necessarily a top agenda item, the apparent inability of some NATO partners to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense as agreed is likely to come up during the summit. Only six members, including the United States, Great Britain and France, currently meet that goal.

Economic and fiscal pressures have caused many European states to reduce their budgets, and Stavridis expressed concern that the situation could adversely impact military readiness.

“We, the United States and its partners who are spending that amount of money, … need to keep pressure on those who are not, so they meet those minimum levels of spending,” he said.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Afghan officials say gunmen have shot and killed a senior member of the Afghan peace council, dealing the latest blow to peace negotiations.

Authorities say an unidentified gunman in a car opened fire on Arsala Rahmani Sunday morning in Kabul as he was on his way to work.

Rahmani was a former Taliban official who became a top member of the Afghan peace council set up by President Hamid Karzai to negotiate a peaceful end to more than 10 years of war. He served as deputy minister of higher education during the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan.

Tuesday, May 08, 2012

U.S. officials say they will not negotiate with al-Qaida over the fate of a 70-year-old American aid worker held hostage in Pakistan, despite the man's video plea for help from President Barack Obama.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said Monday that Washington “cannot and will not” negotiate with al-Qaida, but that there is great concern about Warren Weinstein's safety. He added that U.S. officials are working to locate Weinstein, who was abducted nine months ago in Pakistan.

A video message from Weinstein that appeared online Sunday on jihadist forums reportedly was posted by al-Qaida's media wing. Weinstein addresses President Obama in the nearly three-minute-long video, saying his captors will kill him if their demands for an end to U.S. airstrikes and the release of prisoners are not met.

Weinstein wore a traditional tunic of the Pakistani-Afghan region and sat at a table with books and food. Although he suffers from heart problems, the American told his wife he is in good health.

It is unclear when the message was recorded.

Last December, al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri said in an online video that Weinstein would not be released until the United States ends its airstrikes in Muslim countries. He also demanded the release of al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners.

Eight gunmen seized Weinstein at his home in Lahore, Pakistan, last year just days before he was scheduled to return to the United States. He was serving as director in Pakistan of a private U.S.-based development consulting company, J.E. Austin Associates.

THE PRESIDENT: Good evening from Bagram Air Base. This outpost is more than 7,000 miles from home, but for over a decade it's been close to our hearts. Because here, in Afghanistan, more than half a million of our sons and daughters have sacrificed to protect our country.

Today, I signed a historic agreement between the United States and Afghanistan that defines a new kind of relationship between our countries -- a future in which Afghans are responsible for the security of their nation, and we build an equal partnership between two sovereign states; a future in which war ends, and a new chapter begins.

Tonight, I'd like to speak to you about this transition. But first, let us remember why we came here. It was here, in Afghanistan, where Osama bin Laden established a safe haven for his terrorist organization. It was here, in Afghanistan, where al Qaeda brought new recruits, trained them, and plotted acts of terror. It was here, from within these borders, that al Qaeda launched the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 innocent men, women and children.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

NILI, Afghanistan — Members of the High Peace Council from Kabul traveled to Nili to meet with Daykundi’s Provincial Peace Council and local leaders, and formally integrate them into the national peace planning.

A committee of nine government officials flew in from Kabul, including members of parliament, the National Department of Security, and the National Directorate of Security, to meet with Governor Qurban Ali Oruzgani and other local leaders, to send a message of peace to the rest of the country.

A committee of nine government officials flew in from Kabul including members of parliament, the National Department of Security, and the National Directorate of Security, to meet with Gov. Qurban Ali Oruzgani and other local leaders, to send a message of peace to the rest of the country

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

A day after Afghan forces with NATO support fought off multiple attacks by Taliban militants, Afghan President Hamid Karzai is focusing on ensuring international financial support after most Western combat troops leave in 2014. In a speech Tuesday, Karzai said he wants the U.S. to guarantee at least $2 billion annually to fund the Afghan army and police under a strategic partnership agreement now being negotiated between the two countries.

Both the U.S. and Afghanistan want a strategic partnership agreement to demonstrate America's commitment to stay engaged in Afghanistan after 2014. Karzai said negotiations have stalled over whether or not to include in the agreement a minimum of $2 billion dollars a year to fund the Afghan army and police.

Karzai said the U.S. side indicated that in the future it may want to increase the amount of funding, but that he wants the strategic partnership document to include a written guarantee that Washington will provide at least $2 billion to Afghan security forces annually.

Foreign Troops in Afghanistan

U.S. 90,000

Britain 9,500

Germany 4,800

Italy 3,950

France 3,600

Poland 2,500

Romania 1,900

Turkey 1,850

Australia 1,550

Spain 1,500

Source: ISAF

U.S. officials said they could pay up to about $4 billion a year to fund Afghan forces. But they also said the strategic pact is not meant to be a detailed aid package, but rather a broad framework committing both sides to continue to work together for years to come.

Sunday's attacks by Taliban militants in the Afghan capital and in the eastern Nangarhar, Logar and Paktia provinces have raised concerns about the readiness of Afghan forces to maintain security without U.S. and NATO support.

U.S. officials are pushing to sign the deal before a NATO conference in Chicago in May.

But negotiations over the long-term pact with the U.S. have dragged on for months as Karzai has asked for specific commitments before signing. The biggest of these demands - that the U.S. transfer authority over detainees and night raids to the Afghan government - have been recently resolved.

The Afghan president's comments suggest a growing concern on the Afghan side that the U.S. will not follow through on its promises after most American soldiers leave.

The U.S. has already greatly reduced some funding for development programs in Afghanistan, and a number of NATO nations are accelerating their withdrawal timetables. On Tuesday, Australia announced it would to pull out its troops nearly a year earlier than planned.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Syria has promised to comply with a U.N.-brokered cease-fire beginning Thursday morning, the day set by U.N.-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan as the deadline for a halt to 13 months of bloodshed.

In a statement Wednesday, Damascus said the army has successfully fought off "armed terrorist groups" and has "reasserted the state's rule across the country."

The statement says that a decision has been made to stop these missions as of Thursday morning ((April 12, 2012)). But it also warned that armed forces will remain on standby to retaliate against any attacks by the armed terrorist groups against civilians or troops.

Kofi Annan brokered a six-part peace plan last month that called for Syria's government to withdraw its forces from major urban areas by April 10 and stop combat operations by Thursday.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan is holding out hope that Syria's government and opposition will abide by terms of a cease-fire plan that he brokered, as a Tuesday deadline for Damascus to begin pulling its forces out of urban areas came without a cessation of attacks.

The deal brokered by Mr. Annan said Syria's government must begin pulling troops out of population centers by Tuesday morning, with a full cease-fire by both sides within 48 hours. But hopes for the plan dimmed after a fresh wave of violence and new demands by the government for written guarantees that the opposition will lay down arms first.

Mr. Annan said Tuesday that Syria has until April 12 to fully implement the cease-fire. He added: “it is a bit too early to say that the plan has failed.”

Middle East expert Salman Shaikh says Mr. Annan's peace plan, which includes six provisions, has collapsed.

“His six-point plan is dead on arrival. It is not working. What is not dead is diplomacy. But, I think we need to now look very seriously at what other parts diplomacy can take. In my view, it has to be a much more coercive effort which tries to pull the international community to do something in Syria.”

Syrian rights groups say at least 31 people, mostly civilians, were killed in violence on Tuesday. Some of the deaths came from Syrian government shelling in the central Hama region and the northwestern town of Mareh.

Shaikh, the director of the Brookings Doha Center, says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad sees force as his only option.

“I'm afraid what Assad has determined is that only a security approach will manage to keep the lid on the protests which have now spread through the length and breadth of his country. In fact, if he was to withdraw his forces in any credible fashion, he would be facing hundreds of thousands of people on the streets of Syria, something he can not afford any longer.”

Syrian opposition activists in Geneva say at least 1,000 people have been killed by government forces in the last eight days.

In a Tuesday news conference from Geneva, spokeswoman Basma Kodmani of the opposition Syrian National Council said there were no indications that President Assad was honoring terms of the cease-fire, and she said the opposition group could not accept a partial withdrawal of government forces.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday accused Syrian government forces of violating the border and said his country is considering what steps to take in response, including measures “we do not want to think about.” He did not elaborate.

Mr. Annan commented from Turkey, where he visited border camps set up for Syrians fleeing the violence. On Monday, Syrian forces fired shots across the border, wounding six people near one of the camps. Turkey is giving shelter to about 24,000 Syrian refugees.

In Moscow, Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said his government had begun to fulfill Mr. Annan's plan to end the violence. But he seemed to raise another new demand, saying a cease-fire must start simultaneously with the deployment of an international observer mission.

Moallem's Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, said the Syrian government “could have been more decisive” in implementing the peace plan, but he also called on opposition forces to halt violence. Russia has been one of few world powers to offer some support to Mr. Assad during his bloody crackdown on protesters.

U.N. officials say more than 9,000 people have been killed in Syria since the uprising began 13 months ago.

France's U.N. Ambassador Gerard Araud said Tuesday it is obvious that the Syrian government is not implementing the first steps of Mr. Annan's peace plan.

“It's awful, a dreadful situation there.”

The Obama administration said Tuesday that the U.S. had seen no evidence of a government pull-back in Syria. White House spokesman Jay Carney said the international community would judge President Assad's government on its actions, not words.

Friday, April 06, 2012

[Editor Note: Today I remember two little boys I was blessed to work with - one Serb, one Croat, but both with the same name - whose families were on opposite sides of the great divide, but who discovered, in a land far away from murdering thugs, and camps, a life free from fear. I also hold in my heart - forever - the Belgrade granny who, even though neither of us spoke each other's language, spoke heart to heart, as we held hands, laughed, and cherished our time together..]

VOA News April 6 2012

Bosnians Friday marked the 20th anniversary of the start of the 1992-1995 war that drove millions - about half of the population - from their homes.

Sarajevo's main street is lined with 11,541 red chairs - one chair for every man, woman and child killed in a war that broke out 20 years ago.

On April 6, 1992 Bosnians, Serbians and Croats, poured into Sarajevo's main square to demand peace and freedom. But the three ethnic groups soon turned on each other and Sarajevo fell under a siege that lasted 44 months.

Sarajevo resident Miralem Simcevic said Friday it is hard to think back to that time, "but the most important thing is that we somehow lived through it, and we are now enjoying our freedom."

Israel is on high alert going into the Passover holiday after a pair of Grad rockets fired from Egypt exploded in Eilat early on Thursday, according to Israel National News.

VOA News is reporting U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan told U.N. member states Thursday that April 12 remains a firm deadline for an end to violence in Syria. The killings continue, as world leaders comment.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Violence continued across Syria Tuesday as former U.N. chief Kofi Annan awaited a response from Syria's government on his proposals to resolve the country's deadly violence from the on-going crackdown on dissent.

“I am expecting to hear from the Syrian authorities today since I have left some concrete proposals for them to consider. Once I receive their answer we will know how to react. But let me say the killing and violence must cease.”

Annan, now the U.N.-Arab League special envoy for Syria, commented in Turkey after meeting with members of the opposition Syrian National Council. He left Damascus on Sunday, after two days of talks ended without a settlement.

Activists say Syrian forces killed at least six people in a series of attack across the country. Also, the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says rebels killed at least 21 members of forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad during ambushes in Idlib province and the southern Deraa region.

Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby called for an international probe into civilian deaths in Syria, saying they amounted to “crimes against humanity.”

In another development, Mr. Assad set May 7 date for parliamentary elections. The elections are part of what the government calls a series of reforms based on a new constitution approved by referendum in February.

Opposition groups say the constitution is illegitimate and are demanding Mr. Assad's resignation.

Also, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland questioned the timing of the vote.

“Parliamentary elections for a rubber-stamp parliament in the middle of the kind of violence that we're seeing across the country — it's ridiculous.”

The United States, Britain and Russia have each called for a halt to the violence in Syria, but the United Nations Security Council remains divided on how to resolve the crisis.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says his country will press Syria to accept a plan that calls for a “simultaneous” truce between government forces and armed rebels.

He commented Tuesday, a day after Security Council foreign ministers met in New York.

Russia and China have vetoed Security Council resolutions condemning the Syrian government's deadly crackdown on its opponents. They say the resolutions called for interfering in Syria's internal affairs.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Security Council has “failed” in its responsibilities to the Syrian people and that the diplomatic challenge now is to build on areas where the international community agrees.

“It is encouraging that everybody is talking about a political process. Everybody is now talking about humanitarian aid being delivered, about a cessation of violence and everybody on the United Nations Security Council of course is supporting the work of Kofi Annan. So there are now many common elements, but the task of bringing them together in a resolution remains.”

U.N. officials estimate that 7,500 people have died in the year-long violence.

Monday, March 12, 2012

In 1993, Osama thought he understood the lesson: America would back down from a fight, if they just killed a few of Our Troops. He had learned the lesson from Viet Nam, and from Somalia. In both cases, Our Troops had delivered America Great Victories, but the politicians had managed to defeat Our Troops. There was a point in 2006, 2007, and into 2008, where it looked like the politicians would pull a defeat off in Iraq too. In a sense, they did. General Petraeus was able to pull Victory out of the jaws of the politicians in the nick of time.

In the wake of the 2008 elections, I warned colleagues that the media and politicians were going to try it again in Afghanistan. It had been a tough year in Afghanistan, but the war there has been the least deadly in American History.

Nevertheless, the media has done its part to publicize every negative while ignoring the positives. In few other places will you find the stories of the Generosity Our Troops are doing every day. In few other places will you find their daily Victories. The MSM had sabotaged the Mission in Iraq and now they were fully focused on doing the same in Afghanistan. It wasn't for a lack of stories that they didn't report daily. It was for a lack of negative stories and the others they ignored.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Five high-profile Taliban terrorists held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay may soon be headed for confinement in Qatar.

Senior Afghan officials told media organizations Saturday the five prisoners have given their consent to the transfer to the Gulf state. The transfer still needs to be approved by the United States, and several U.S. lawmakers with knowledge of the proposal have voiced strong opposition.

The possible deal is meant as an incentive for the Taliban to "begin serious peace talks" with the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

One of Mr. Karzai's representatives met with the Taliban prisoners earlier this week to secure their consent for the transfer.

The Afghan Taliban have reportedly begun preliminary talks with U.S. officials in Qatar and have previously announced plans to open a political office there. VoA.

The group has repeatedly refused to negotiate with the Afghan government. The Karzai government does not support the release or negotiations with Taliban Terrorists involved. The Taliban have stated they will not be bound by any "negotiations" secured by such talks. And the Obama Administration has already set a timeline for withdrawal from Afghanistan which is the key demand of the Taliban.

The Taliban espouse a ban on education for women, the right of men to beat their wives, and a return to the tyrannical dictatorship they held pre-9/11. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda remain staunch allies and continue to train, finance, and live together.

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country cannot afford to wait much longer for diplomacy and sanctions to deter Iran’s nuclear program.

Speaking to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC, Prime Minister Netanyahu said all options are on the table to keep Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb.

“The Jewish state will not allow those who seek our destruction to possess the means to achieve that goal," he said. "A nuclear armed Iran must be stopped.”

Netanyahu’s remarks followed a meeting at the White House with President Barack Obama, who urged the Israeli prime minister to give sanctions time to curtail Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Netanyahu says sanctions are hurting Iran’s economy but Tehran’s nuclear program continues to march forward.

“My friends Israel has waited, patiently waited, for the international community to resolve this issue. We have waited for diplomacy to work. We have waited for sanctions to work," added Netanyahu. "None of us can afford to wait much longer.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu praises the alliance between the United States and his country, but says when it comes to Israel’s survival, it must always remain the master of its own fate.

Iran denies it is pursuing a nuclear weapon, saying its program is for peaceful purposes.

Dennis Ross, a former senior advisor to President Obama on the National Security Council, is a senior analyst at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He says if Iran produces a bomb, it is likely to start a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

“The prospect of there being a nuclear war would be quite high. This is not the same as the Cold War where you had only two actors and where those actors had communications. This is a place where no country would feel that they could afford to be second, in terms of striking," said Ross. "Everyone would be acting on a hair trigger.”

Tania Cobb, an activist who came to Washington from California to attend the AIPAC convention, says despite assurances from President Obama, she is still nervous about the possibility of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon.

“We missed the mark with North Korea. We have missed the mark in many other situations as well," she said. "This is a very sensitive issue where we cannot afford to make a mistake.”Both Israel and the United States oppose a policy of containing an Iran armed with an atomic bomb.However, officials from both countries have expressed different views on what might trigger military strikes against Tehran’snuclear program.

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Afghanistan's parliament has approved nominations of seven vacant Cabinet seats and replaced two nominees previously put forward by President Hamid Karzai, ending a two-year standoff over the lineup of the Cabinet.

In a statement, Mr. Karzai thanked lawmakers for a “vote of confidence” in his ministers and for carrying out their constitutional duty. He wished the confirmed ministers success in serving their country.

Seven of the nine nominees had been serving as acting ministers since parliament rejected 10 of the president's 17 nominees in January 2010, complaining they were corrupt or not qualified.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

U.S. Senator John McCain said he hopes a strategic partnership agreement with Afghanistan can be finalized before a NATO meeting in May, but that the United States will not resolve sensitive issues in a way that might put American service members at risk.

McCain made the comments after holding talks Sunday with Afghan President Hamid Karzai along with a team of U.S. senators.

The president's office said Mr. Karzai pushed for the transfer of Bagram prison to Afghan control, and stressed the need for an end to night raids by international troops. He said the issues are of "grave importance" to the Afghan people.

Carrying out the raids at night is important for troop safety, said McCain.

"So we emphasized to President Karzai that we believe that this issue can be resolved, but we are strongly opposed to any termination of night raids because of the added risk it would put on the men and women in our military, which obviously is not something that we would ever agree to.''

McCain also said successful peace talks with the Taliban will be more difficult because of the planned pullout of international troops by the end of 2014.

Meanwhile, despite a massive campaign by coalition and Afghan forces to increase security in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, Afghan police reported a suicide bomber attacked a police station there on Monday, killing at least one police officer.

Kandahar police chief Abdul Raziq said the attacker detonated a bomb-laden car outside the station, injuring at least four other people, both police and civilians. The blast also badly damaged a nearby civilian compound.

There was no immediate claim or responsibility for the attack, but similar bombings in the past have been blamed on the Taliban.

Also Monday, three Italian soldiers died when their armored vehicle crashed into a canal in western Afghanistan, overturning as they were crossing a stream in Herat province's Shindand district, officials said.

Monday, February 06, 2012

... "conditions on the ground," "in consultation with the Ground Commanders."

"the Taliban has maintained common cause with al Qaeda" President Obama, West Point, December 1st, 2009

These are things we have heard from the President, the Secretary of Defense, and other Administration officials. I am not the first to have pointed out that the very opposite occurred, that the decision was made to cut Troop levels in Afghanistan before the first Soldier in "The Surge" received his orders to go. Nor am I the first to point out that this is the wrong time, i.e. in the middle of war, to cut the number of Troops available to fight these wars.

"..a group of extremists who have distorted and defiled Islam, one of the world's great religions, to justify the slaughter of innocents. Al Qaeda's base of operations was in Afghanistan, where they were harbored by the Taliban - a ruthless, repressive and radical movement that seized control of that country" President Obama, West Point, December 1st, 2009

Saturday, February 04, 2012

Pakistan's prime minister is headed to Qatar next week to discuss ways to bring peace to Afghanistan.

Pakistani officials announced the trip to the Gulf emirate Saturday. They said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will meet with Qatari leaders about reconciliation efforts meant to end fighting between the Afghan government and the insurgent Taliban.

The Afghan Taliban announced last moth that it planned to open a political office in Qatar, ahead of expected peace talks with the United States. An Afghan Taliban delegation has also met with U.S. officials in Qatar for preliminary discussions.

Earlier this week, Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and said Islamabad is willing to push Afghan insurgents to make peace, if asked to do so by the Afghan government. She also said Pakistan has no “hidden agenda” in Afghanistan.

Pakistan is seen as a key player in that process because of its historical and currently growing support to the Taliban. Many of the Afghan insurgent group's leaders are believed to be based in Pakistan.

On Wednesday, Pakistan dismissed a leaked NATO report that accused its military intelligence agency, the ISI, of supporting the Afghan Taliban. The classified report was compiled from the interrogations of 4,000 captured Taliban and al-Qaida operatives. VoA

[The Obama Administration has been pushing the Afghan Government to negotiate with the Taliban, and plans to release senior terrorists of the Taliban for the negotiations in Qatar. 2011 was one of the most violent years in Afghanistan, with record numbers of Afghan civilians killed by the Taliban, record number of International Troops killed by Taliban infiltrators of the Afghan Security Forces, and the second highest number of International and US Troops killed in the War in Afghanistan. The War in Afghanistan was a response to the attacks on 9/11, by members of Al-Qaeda, who had trained in Afghanistan, during the period of the Taliban regime.]

Friday, February 03, 2012

Palestinian protesters, angered by the policies of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, threw shoes, sticks and stones at his convoy as he entered the Gaza Strip for a brief visit on Thursday. Later, Ban urged Palestinian militants in Gaza to stop launching rockets into civilian areas in Israel.

The protesters accused Ban of pro-Israeli bias and criticized him for failing to meet with leaders of the Hamas movement that controls Gaza. They shouted slogans and held signs criticizing him and accusing him of being biased toward Israel.

Hamas security officers beside the protesters allowed Ban's convoy to enter the territory. No one was injured in the incident.

Later, in a Gaza news conference, Ban thanked the territory's people for their "warm welcome," drawing laughter from journalists. He also said he shares the protesters' concern and frustration with what he called a "very dire economic, social and humanitarian problem" in Gaza.

Ban met with U.N. relief officials running a school and a housing project in the southern town of Khan Younis. He called for an end to violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

"All this violence must stop. Particularly I would urge that people from Gaza must stop firing rockets into the Israeli side. Indiscriminate killing of people, civilian people is not acceptable," said Ban.

Militants in Gaza launched eight rockets into southern Israel on the eve of Ban's visit. No one was injured.

Ban is on the last day of a two-day trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories

While he did not meet with Hamas officials, he met Wednesday night in the West Bank with the head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, and urged him to continue preliminary talks with Israel.

The talks, sponsored by Jordan and the Middle East Quartet of U.N., European, Russian and U.S. mediators, are aimed at reviving the stalled Middle East peace process.

"I also note with appreciation that the Palestinians have been forthcoming in presenting counter proposals on territory and security as called for by the Quartet. I very much hope that the Israelis now will present their proposals," said Ban.

Abbas said the Palestinians were looking at other possibilities to further their cause as the talks have ended inconclusively.

He said the Palestinians had many options and would follow up on them after consulting with the Arab League. This meeting is due next week in Doha.

Palestinian leaders say the options include reviving their bid for full U.N. membership, currently on hold in the Security Council, or launching a program of civil disobedience, mass protests or a boycott of Israeli goods.

Ban met earlier Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urged him to help jump start the stalled peace talks by halting new settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, one of several Palestinian demands.

As he has said before, Netanyahu responded that he believes the issue should be part of the peace negotiations and urged the Palestinians to resume talks without pre-conditions.

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Some people "just don't get it." No matter what you say, how you say it, you're not going to get through their drug clouded mind what is and is not acceptable behavior. In this particular case, we're talking not just about a generation that grew up believing they were entitled to do whatever they want, and have responsibility for none of their own actions, but took that a step further and decided that their own lack of responsibility meant also that they could desecrate the very symbols of sacrifice others have paid in blood, sweat, and tears to provide them the prosperity and security to live their lives in Freedom. And when called on it, by those who are represented by that sacrifice, their response is: good, we wanted the publicity.

The group in question advocates for the legalization of pot. I'm not going to weigh into the merits of legalization vs. prohibition of marijuana. It is illegal, under current law, except in California, for "medical purposes." It is the right of every American to attempt to convince the rest of America or the states or their local governments that a law should or should not be enacted, including potheads.

"The PoW flag is not copyrighted and is open property. It is a gift for all Americans, to do with as they see fit."

The U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Marc Grossman, says the United States is using “all of its contacts in the region” in order to get Afghans talking to Afghans.

In an interview with VOA Tuesday, Grossman did not confirm that the U.S. government is talking to the Taliban at this point, and disagreed with the contention that the United States is sidelining anyone in the Afghan reconciliation process.

Commenting on a New York Times article that the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai feels left out and is starting parallel talks with the Taliban in Saudi Arabia, Grossman called it “wrong” and said that how the Afghans talk to each other is “their business.” He stressed that the important thing is that “Afghans talk to Afghans.”

He reiterated the State Department's position that the U.S. wants to talk itself “out of a job” by getting the Afghans to talk to each other.

As for U.S.-Pakistani relations, special envoy Grossman called the parliamentary review of Islamabad's ties to Washington Pakistan's right as a sovereign country. He expressed hope that the two countries would be able to forge “a wide-ranging active relationship based on mutual interests and respect.”

Grossman acknowledged that Pakistan has a huge role to play in supporting Afghan peace efforts and said Washington has been trying to keep Islamabad informed of its efforts towards Afghan reconciliation and peace.

Inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog have completed a three-day visit to Iran with no apparent breakthrough on Tehran's controversial atomic energy program after Western powers imposed tough, new economic sanctions.

The semi-official Fars news agency Tuesday called the talks between Iranian officials and the visiting team “constructive,” saying the two sides had agreed to continue their dialogue. The Fars report said the date of future talks had been set, but did not give details.

The senior International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors traveled to Tehran Saturday for meetings with Iranian officials on suspicions that the Islamic state's uranium enrichment program is designed to produce nuclear weapons. Iran says the effort is solely for generating electricity.

Iranian media reported the six-person IAEA team did not visit any nuclear sites, saying only “technical and legal issues were discussed.” Also Tuesday, the semi-official ISNA news agency said some hardline Iranian students had gathered in front of the country's Atomic Energy Organization to protest the inspectors' visit.

Tensions with the West rose when the U.S. and European Union recently imposed the toughest sanctions yet in a drive to force Tehran to provide more information on its nuclear program. The measures aim to block crude oil sales by Iran, OPEC's second largest exporter.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi had offered to extend the IAEA visit. Iran has also said frequently in recent weeks that it is prepared to resume talks with world powers, which were suspended more than a year ago.

But hardline Iranian leaders have also threatened to close the vital Strait of Hormuz shipping lanes if sanctions prevent the country from exporting crude. Washington said it would not tolerate a blocking of the waterway.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Afghan Taliban negotiators are meeting with U.S. officials in Qatar for a series of discussions aimed at building trust between the two sides ahead of the upcoming peace talks.

Maulavi Qalamuddin, who once led the group's religious police, said Sunday the delegation includes several former officials, as well as a former secretary to the Taliban's leader, Mullah Omar.

Qalamuddin said the talks include the possible release of Taliban prisoners from the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He said the delegation traveled to Qatar from Pakistan - a possible sign that Islamabad might support the peace process.

VOA’s Ira Mellman spoke with Michael Semple, Fellow with the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Semple says there are two processes underway in Afghanistan. One is a “real political process” and the other a “great media war."

Meanwhile, Afghan officials said Sunday they will soon open a second front of negotiations with the Taliban, meeting in Saudi Arabia in an attempt to bring an end to the decade-long Afghan war.

In Brussels Monday, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said the alliance will adhere to its plans to withdraw combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014.

Rasmussen said NATO expects the final transition of provinces and districts to lead Afghan responsibility by mid-2013. He said that, from that time on, the alliance can gradually change the role of its forces from combat to support.

Pakistani officials have declined to comment on the country's role in contacts between the Taliban and the United States. But a Foreign Ministry spokesman, Abdul Basit, has reiterated that Islamabad will continue to make contributions toward achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Also on Sunday, Pakistan said Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will travel to Afghanistan Wednesday to discuss the war on terror and political reconciliation efforts. Khar is expected to meet with her Pakistani counterpart, Zalmai Rassoul, and make a "courtesy call" on President Hamid Karzai.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Taliban negotiators are meeting with U.S. officials in Qatar for a series of discussions aimed at building trust and preparing both sides for upcoming peace talks.

Maulavi Qalamuddin, who once led the group's religious police, said Sunday the delegation includes several former officials, as well as a former secretary to the Taliban's leader Mullah Omar.

Qalamuddin said the talks include the possible release of Taliban prisoners from the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He added the delegation traveled to Qatar from Pakistan — a possible sign that Islamabad might support the peace process.

Pakistani officials have declined to comment on the country's role in contacts between the Taliban and the United States. But a Foreign Ministry spokesman has reiterated that Islamabad will continue to make contributions toward achieving peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan

Google

Delta Bravo Sierra

Volume 1

For a few bucks more you can get a signed copy from the author himself! http://www.deltabravosierra.us/2011/02/10/a-word-about-the-new-book/comment-page-1/#comment-3383
Get your copy of this legendary cartoon now (or wait a few days for the signed copy!)

Amazon Electronics

Profound Classics

Ace Of Spades: Why Language MattersIn this article, Ace of Spades demonstrates how the writing style of "journalists" and other writers is purposely used to influence the electorate. He explains this far better than I have been able to do, but this is the foundation of why I could no longer be silent.